I have no doubt that we, today’s general population, would test better and can probably theorize much better than our ancestors of, say the 18th century, but are we actually smarter?

Today, we have a wealth of knowledge at our disposal. We have nearly endless ways of absorbing this knowledge. From the Internet to libraries to television, there really is just about no reason for someone to say that they “can’t learn” how to do something.

However, one could also make the argument that “everyday knowledge” has dropped over the last few centuries. We can call it common sense if that makes you feel better but, whatever we call it, I believe it has declined. I have read letters from Civil War soldiers and can safely say that while we may have more knowledge, we may not necessarily be smarter.

Think about it for a second; much of the population can no longer do math. They actually have difficulty with basic adding and subtracting without the use of a calculator. Two hundred years ago, basic arithmetic was an everyday necessity needed in everyday life to simply survive. Sure a few people can do math — primarily, the guys that put together the calculator/computer your kids are currently using — but we have all witnessed the struggles of a cashier when an inordinate change sequence is given or a wrong amount has been punched into the register.

I, not too long ago, actually witnessed a cashier go so far as void the transaction and begin again to avoid the math. All I could think was how pathetic it was.

Writing is another area that has dropped in quality. We can no longer write in prose. Maybe the elite writers of our generation can compete, but the everyday average Joe? I’m not so sure.

Reading something written today by an average writer is not relaxing at best and downright difficult at worst. The flowing prose with which the average soldier displayed in many of the Civil War letters as well some of the World War I letters I have read is a relaxing, easy read compared to today’s choppy, truncated written word.

The everyday person can no longer build a shelter. Sure, we can build and build magnificent structures like Jerry Jones’ Temple to the Football Gods in Dallas, but that’s not the everyday person — it’s a select few architects and contractors. In times past, just about everyone could build the most simplistic shelter. That is not the case today.

I would go so far as to say that as a group people we were “smarter” in many ways 200 years ago than we are today. Back then, nearly everyone could use a compass (most kids wouldn’t even recognize a compass today), nearly everyone could do everyday math, write an eloquent letter, feed themselves through hunting or farming and build a shelter on their own.

Page 2 of 2 - Do you honestly think your 20-year-old, video-game-playing son, neighbor or nephew could do any of those things if we removed the button he pushes to do those actions? Most of them can not even do dishes without the button to start the dishwasher. Pushing a button to make something do something is not the same thing as ACTUALLY doing it.

Ironically, IQ scores have risen significantly throughout the last century. Our vocabularies have expanded (for better or worse) and we have a much better concept of the world around us. Some of this is due to the much improved methods and techniques of learning whether its computers, three-dimensional maps or whatever.

We, no doubt, think much larger than our ancestors — and on a much grander scale.

What can we do? How do we curb this disturbing trend?

Sadly, I do not know. It would seem to me that we need to start educating not only our children better but ourselves as well. Hopefully, we never reach a time when we all need to know all of this type of stuff but who knows really?

However, I would love to know how to build a really cool fort.

Richard Clarkis the universal desk manager for Halifax Communications ENC; his column appears in this space every Sunday. You can reach him at 910-219-8452 or at Richard.Clark@jdnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at kpaws22.